ZESCO to host regional power meet

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU ZESCO will this month host a 2018 bi-annual Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) conference to promote regional electricity trading.

SAPP is an integration of Southern African National Power Utilities that was formed to enhance regional electricity trading for regional integration and mitigation of climate change.

SAPP member countries include Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, Angola, Namibia, DR Congo Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the host, Zambia.

According to Zesco public relations officer, Hazel Zulu, the bi-annual SAPP meeting was scheduled to take place in Livingstone from the 27th February 27 to March 1 under the theme, “Leveraging on the Current Excess Generation to Promote Regional Interconnectivity and Energy Trading in the SADC region.” Ms. Zulu said the meeting was aimed at promoting the creation of a network amongst national power utilities in the SADC region to enable importation and exportation of power.

She explained that the development would then create revenue for countries when there is excess, as well as support each other in times of emergency deficits.

She said the meeting was expected to deliberate on different issues including access to sustainable energy in Africa to determine stability and resilience in the wake of catastrophes, rural electrification and development of alternative and renewable energy source strategies so as to grow an energy mix.

“As an institution we are excited to host our counterparts at this high level meeting as it will give us an opportunity to interact with and review the performance of national utilities in the region, in terms of electricity provision and make recommendations on how improvements can be made in needy areas,” she said.